I think PA just blue screened my Vista x64 SP1 PC

[denzilla]

Had been using default classic skin for a longtime so I decided to change it to the modern skin. Didn’t like the skin so I proceeded to go to the skins options and there were two others listed MyPA and Longhorn. Changed to Longhorn and PA suddenly crashed. Any attempt to reopen PA just caused an instant “This app stopped working” message from Vista. I then decided to go to the PA program directory and delete those two skins hoping that would cause PA to revert to default skin. As I was clicking through the directories, I noticed that my sound as screwed up as in static filled and the “click” sound effect was instead the “stop” or “crash” sound effect instead. Figured it was time for a reboot so I went to the start menu and selected to restart the PC. Within 20 seconds I got a blue screen. Powered down the PC and cold booted it and got a windows recovered from a serious error message. Immediately deleted those two skins and got PA to start again, but this was very troubling. This Vista install isn’t 3 months old and I had no issues up until this point. Using latest PA 2007 build, btw.

****** I tried to repro on an XP PC and although I didn’t get it to crash, there are definite problems with those two skins. If you switch back and forth between them, they will glitch up. It will for example show the MyPA skin even though it clearly shows Longhorn skin as being checked. Those skins should be removed from the installer if they’re not going to be updated. TBO, neither one of them are that great, especially LH.

[RJWaring]

Thanks Denzilla,

Im sure one of the developers will get back to you with regards to this issue. In the mean while can you provide a bit more information of your system specs of which this issue occured. ie, CPU, RAM, Vista Version ie Ultimate, Home etc… also if possible any programs that were runing as well.

Can any other users who own Vista try and replicate this and report it please? This will allow PA to gain an idea to the overall impact to other users.

[guido]

I’m unable to reproduce this on vista x86.

[Luxor]

Just tried it on Vista home premium 32 bit and could not reproduce.

What version of PA are you using ? as there was a problem with these skins in an earlier version as posted HERE

[denzilla]

I could be a specific problem with Vista x64, SP1 or a combination of the two. My hardware:

Asus M2N-X motherboard
A64 X2 4400+
2GB Corsair VS DDR-667
Sapphire Radeon HD 3450 PCI-E
Seagate 250GB SATA II
Vista x64 w/SP1

I had no other apps open at the time other than a few things in the systray (KAV7, APC powerchute, ATI control panel)

[spwolf]

@denzilla:

I could be a specific problem with Vista x64, SP1 or a combination of the two. My hardware:

Asus M2N-X motherboard
A64 X2 4400+
2GB Corsair VS DDR-667
Sapphire Radeon HD 3450 PCI-E
Seagate 250GB SATA II
Vista x64 w/SP1

I had no other apps open at the time other than a few things in the systray (KAV7, APC powerchute, ATI control panel)

skins should not be used in x64… it is our error, it was supposed to be disabled when it detects x64.

so as an workaround, dont use skins in x64 :-).

[denzilla]

@spwolf:

skins should not be used in x64… it is our error, it was supposed to be disabled when it detects x64.

so as an workaround, dont use skins in x64 :-).

Just glad to hear there was an actual reason for the blue screen. Its actually the first blue screen I ever had. Seen them on other people’s systems, but never my own. Rather scary :p